Electric plug receptacle



July 16, 1957 T. B. WEISS 2,799,839

ELECTRIC PLUG RECEPTACLE Filed Sept. 29, 1955 Fig./ 22

g k E Thomas B. Weiss 9 i INVENTOR. 55' E. l: 9 MI BY Wanda M M Iwe ELECTRIC PLUG REQEPTACLE Thomas B. Weiss, Palo Aito, (Iaiif.

Application September 29, 1955, Serial No. 537,344

2 Claims. (Cl. 339-164) This invention relates to the class of electrical connectors, and more particularly to a novel electric plug receptacle. I

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision of :a receptacle which can be manufactured using a minimum number of parts, material and space while being adapted to receive a number of plugs.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of an electric plug receptacle formed of a two-piece body, each piece of which is identical with the other and which employs contact plates of identical construction, thereby requiring the fabrication of a reduced number of parts.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of an electric plug receptacle constructed of a minimum number of parts which is adapted to receive and hold the prongs of plugs in position in a secure manner.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of an electric plug receptacle which has prong receiving apertures which are offset or staggered relative to each other so as to enable a large number of plugs to be received in a receptacle of relatively small size.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of an electric plug receptacle that is strong and durable, highly efficient in use, and capable of being easily manufactured at relatively low cost.

These, together with the various anciilary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this electric plug receptacle, preferred embodiments of which have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevati-onal view of the electric plug receptacle comprising the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the electric plug receptacle shown with four plugs secured thereto;

Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of the electrical plug receptacle shown with a pair of plugs inserted therein;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view as taken along the plane of line 44 in Figure l;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line 5-5 in Figure 2 illustrating the positioning of the prongs of the plugs with respect to the contact plates;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the contact plates utilized in the present invention;

Figure 7 is a view similar to that of Figure 3 but illustrating a modified form of the invention; and

Figure 8 is a perspective View of one of the contact plates utilized in the modified form of the invention.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, and with initial attention directed to the embodiment of the invention as is shown in Figures 1 through 6, reference numeral 10 is used to generally designate the electric plug receptacle comprising the present invention. This electric plug receptacle 10 includes an insulative body 12 formed of any suitable material, such as Bakelite, various synthetic plastic resins, preferably of thermosetting qualities, or the like. The body 10 is adapted to provide means for permitting connection of a plurality of plugs as are indicated at 14, 16, 18 and 20 to a source of electrical current conducted by wires 22 to the receptacle 10.

The insulative body 12 is formed of two body sections 24 and 26, each of which is substantially identical with the other. The body sections 24 and 26 are held together by means of a bolt 28 and a hexagonal nut 30. Of course, other suitable fasteners can be utilized, or the sections 24 and 26 of the body can be bonded together.

The body section 24 is provided with a first pair of prong receiving apertures 32 and 34 there-through as well as another set of prong receiving apertures 36 and 38.

The body section 26 is provided with prong receiving apertures 44), 42, 44 and therethrough which are olfset from the apertures 32, 34, 36 and 38. All of the apertures communicate with suitably shaped recesses in the body sections which are aligned with each other. The body section 24 is provided with recesses 48 and 50 as well as lower recesses which are not clearly shown in the drawing which cooperate with the lower recesses 52 and 5'4 in the body section 26, the body section 26 being also provided with upper recesses 56 and 58.

Positioned in the recesses are a pair of contact plates 60 and 62, the construction of which is identical, the plate 60 bein shown in perspective in Figure 6 for clarity. The plate 6% includes a main central portion 64 having four projections 66, as, 7% and 72 extending at an acute angle relative thereto outwardly therefrom in parallel directions, the projections being arranged in pairs and projecting substantially parallel to each other. An anchor portion 74 is provided at one end, and a portion '76 having an aperture 78 therethrough to which the conductors of the wires 22 can be attached is provided for seating in the main recess 8% in the body 12.

As can be readily seen from an inspection of Figure 3, when the prongs of the plugs are positioned in the open ings provided therefor, the prongs will engage and resiliently contact the contact plates as and 62 in a manner so that the prongs of the various conductors are held in spaced relationship while completing operative electrical circuits to the positive and negative sides of the receptacle.

"In Figures 7 and 8, there is shown a modified form of the invention in which the body sections and 92 of the insulative body are provided with enlarged recesses, as at 96, )5, 1-09 and iii-2, respectively, for recept-ion of contact plates 1'34- and 1&6 of diifering construction from the contact plate on. It will be noted that the contact plate 3% is shown in perspective in Figure 8 and includes a main central portion 108 having projections 110, 112, 114 and 116 which are substantially L-shaped and have arcuate end portions, as at 11%, 129, 122 and 124 which cooperate with the central portion 108 to resiliently hold the prongs of plugs as at 325 and 126. Thus, four plugs can be readily received in each plug receptacle, and because of the staggered arrange ment of the prongs to the plugs, the plug receptacle can be of much smaller size than heretofore had been possible.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

' What is claimed as new is as follows: 7

1. An electric plug receptacle comprising an insulativerbody having pairs of cavities therein pairs of prong receiving apertures in said body opening r-int-o said body from'sop'posite sides of said body, one aperture of each pair of apertures being enclosed between another of said pair of apertures, each enclosed aperture Ybe i n g parallel 'with the pair of apertures into'which it is enclosed, the pairs of prong receiving apertures on one side of said body being ofiset fromtthe prong receiving apertures on the other side of said body, and a pair of contact plates in' said body, each of saidccontact plates extending between a pair :of said cavities, said body being formed of a pair of identical body sections, said platesrextending between said body sections, each of said contact plates having a main central portion, said plates having pairs of projections extending from opposite edges of said pair of apertures, each enclosed aperture being parallel with the pair of apertures into which it is enclosed, the pairs of prong receiving apertures on one side of said body being offset from the prong receiving apertures on the other side of said body, and a pair of contact plates in said body, each of said contact plates extending between a pair of said cavities, said body being formed of a pair of identical body sections, said plates extending between said body sect-ions, each of said contact plates having a main central portion, said plates having pairs of projections extending from opposite edges of said central portion, each pair of said projections being directly opposite another pair of said projections, ends'of said projections extending angularly with respect to said central portion, said projections being L-shape for receiving prongs of a connector between themselves and said central portion.

References Cited in the file'of this patent 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,613,959 Propp Jan. 11, 1927 2,449,450 -Carlson Sept. 14, 1948 2,685,074 Lazzery July 27, 1954 2,714,713 Parajon Aug. 2,' 1955 2,723,382 Lawson Nov. 8, 1955 

